Integrated wireless/wireline registration

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are presented in which a routing number for telecommunication environments are stored in both a wireless network and a landline network. By storing the routing number at both the wireless network and the landline network, a “tromboning” effect is reduced, thereby providing greater efficiency.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/456,672, filed on Dec. 9, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to the integration of the wireless andwireline networks and, in particular, to the integratedwireless/wireline registration that faciliates the routing of PCS callsto a landline device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Telephone are linked through telecommunication systems thatincludes the public switched telephone network (PSTN), which iscontinually being improved thorugh such developments as the AdvancedIntelligent Network (AIN). Devices that are linked through the PSTN withthe aid of the AIN include conventional telephones, radio telephones(often referred to as cordless phones), answering machines, facsimile(fax) machines, computers, and computer peripherals such as modems,printers and the like. These devices in most cases are physically linkedto the PSTN through copper wire and in some cases fiber optic lines.Thus, these devices are referred to herein as “wireline” or “landline”devices. A telecommunications system such as the PSTN that serveswireline devices is referred to herein as a “wireline” or “landline”network.

[0004] A wireline device, as its name implies, keeps its user tied to aparticular geographic location through a line connected to a wirelinenetwork. For example, a wireline device in a person's home or office maybe used only in the limited area of that home or office. Based on thistie to a particular geographic location, a subscriber's directory numberin the wireline network generally is associated with the particulargeographic location of the wireline devices used by the subscriber.

[0005] To break this tie to a particular geographic location, wirelesstelecommunications devices for use in wireless networks have beendeveloped. A wireless telecommunications device is also referred toherein as a “wireless unit” or a “mobile unit”. The most familiarwireless units are cellular phones, which are also referred to as mobilephones and, when used in a car, as car phones. But wireless units mayinclude other communication devices that operate on principles of radioor microwave technology. The most familiar types of wireless networksinclude the cellular mobile radio telephone (CMR) system and thepersonal communication network (PCN).

[0006] A wireless unit does not fetter its user with ties to aparticular geographic location. Rather, a wireless unit may be usedanywhere within a geographic area served by the subscriber's wirelessnetwork or by another wireless network through arrangements for suchservice made with the subscriber's wireless network. Based on the mobilenature of a wireless unit, a call to a subscriber using a wireless unitis directed to a number that is associated with the wireless unit. Inthe CMR system, this number is often referred to as a subscriber's “cellphone number” or “mobile phone number.”

[0007] Given the convenience of wireless units, their popularity isgrowing. But it is not yet an exclusively wireless world. For variousreasons, including those of cost, infrastructure, and special services,a user may be a subscriber of both a landline service and a wirelessservice. For example, a salesperson may use a landline device in his orher home or office and may use a wireless unit in his or her car. Inmany cases, a subscriber's landline service is completely separate fromthe subscriber's wireless service. Where these services are separate, toreach a particular subscriber, a caller may have to call both thesubscriber's landline directory number, which is associated with aparticular geographic location, and the number which is associated withthe subscriber's mobile unit. Trying to reach a subscriber by making twocalls to two different numbers is inconvenient and inefficient. It isalso inconvenient and inefficient to burden the subscriber with havingto distribute more than one number to potential callers. It is furtherinconvenient and inefficient to burden a potential caller with having toknow both of the numbers associated with the subscriber.

[0008] To overcome the problems associated with a subscriber having touse a landline device with a landline number and a wireless unit with awireless number, some subscribers have made use of call forwardingservices offered by the service providers of the landline service or thewireless service. For example, a subscriber may implement a callforwarding service with respect to his or her wireless number so that,for a time, all calls directed to the wireless number are forwarded tothe landline number. A disadvantage of such an implementation of thecall forwarding service is demonstrated in the case of a caller making acall from a wireless unit to the subscriber's landline number. The callis routed from the wireless network in which the caller's wireless unitis operating to the landline network in which the subscriber's landlinedevice is located. But as noted, the subscriber's landline number has acall forwarding service implemented on it so that calls are forwarded tothe subscriber's wireless unit. So, in this example, the call from thecaller using the wireless unit is routed back from the landline networkin which the subscriber's landline device is located to the wirelessnetwork in which the subscriber's wireless unit is located. Thisback-and-forth routing of a call from a first network to a secondnetwork and then back to the first network is known as “tromboning” orthe “tromboning effect”.

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a case of tromboning with respect to a callthat is routed from the landline network 12 to the wireless network 14and back to the landline network 12. In this second example, assume asubscriber has implemented the call forwarding service on his or herwireless number associated with wireless unit 28 d so that all calls tothe wireless number are forwarded to the subscriber's landline number(associated with landline unit 16 d). Also assume that a caller uses hisor her landline device 16 a to dial a call to the subscriber's wirelessnumber. The call originates in the landline network 12 and is routedfrom the caller's landline unit 16 a as indicated by arrow A through theservice switching point (SSP) 18 a and as indicated by arrow B to accesstandem 20. From the access tandem 20, the call is routed to the wirelessnetwork 14, and in particular, through the access tandem 20 as indicatedby arrow C to the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) 22 servingthe wireless number.

[0010] As a result of the implementation of the call forwarding serviceon the wireless number, a check of the home location register (HLR) 24,as indicated by arrows D and E, results in forwarding of the call fromthe subscriber's wireless number to the subscriber's landline number.Thus, the call is routed from MTSO 22 as indicated by arrow F throughaccess tandem 20 and back to the landline network 12. In particular,from access tandem 20, as indicated by arrow G, the call is routed tothe SSP 18 b which serves the subscriber's landline number. From the SSP18 b, as indicated by arrow H, the call is terminated to the wirelinedevice 16 d associated with the subscriber's landline number. Thus, thecall suffers from the tromboning effect by being routed: (1) from thelandline network 12 to the wireless network 14 as indicated by arrows A,B, and C; and (2) back from the wireless network 14 to the landlinenetwork 12 as indicated by arrows D, E, F, G, and H.

[0011] In this example, tromboning occurs with respect to this call forthe following reasons: (1) the call originates in a first network; (2)the information with respect to the call forwarding service is locatedin a second network; and (3) the call forwarding information indicatesthat the call is to be routed back to the first network. In other words,the call has to cross from the first to the second network so as toobtain the information that the call must double back to the firstnetwork.

[0012] The tromboning of a call adversely impacts the call because theback-and-forth routing of the call from one network to another and backto the first network results in a delay in the processing of the call.In addition, the tromboning of a call has negative consequences on thenetworks that are involved in the back-and-forth routing of the call,because the tromboning detrimentally occupies network resources thatotherwise could be used to handle other traffic.

[0013] The tromboning effect and its problems have been described in thecontext of back-and-forth routing between a landline network and awireless network that results from the implementation of a callforwarding service. But the tromboning effect may occur between any twocommunication networks where a call or other communication originateswith a first network, is routed to a second network, and then isre-routed for termination or connection to a unit operating in the firstnetwork.

[0014] Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system thatovercomes the problems associated with a telecommunications subscriberhaving to keep track of two different numbers and possibly having todial two different numbers (a landline number and a wireless number) toreach a subscriber who utilizes both landline service and wirelessservices.

[0015] There is also a need for a method and system that prevents thetromboning effect with respect to the routing of a call or othercommunication from a first device to a second device.

[0016] There further is a need for a method and system that prevents thetromboning effect with respect to the routing of a call or othercommunication between two communication networks wherein a call or othercommunication originates with a first network, is routed to a secondnetwork, and then is re-routed for termination or connection to a deviceoperating in the first network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention addresses the above described needs byproviding a system and method for routing telephone calls directed to awireless unit located in a wireless network to a landline device locatedin a landline network. The present invention utilizes a locationregister in the form of a service control point (SCP) located in thelandline network to store certain information pertaining to landlinenumbers and respective routing numbers associated with landline devices.Functionally coupled to the SCP is a Visitors' Location Register (VLR).The VLR facilitates the receiving of subscriber information from thewireless network relating to subscriber identity and verification aswell as the features and services to which the subscriber hassubscribed. Additionally, the SCP is also functionally coupled to alandline network element that facilitates the routing of communicationsboth to landline devices and over to the wireless network. In general,the landline network element is in the form of an Access Tandem (AT). Inrouting the communications to the landline devices, the communicationsare transmitted from the landline network element to the landlinedevices via Switch Servicing Points (SSP), of which each areindividually capable of accessing numerous landline devices.

[0018] As the primary link between the landline network and the wirelessnetwork, the landline network element is functionally coupled to aMobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) located in the wirelessnetwork. The MTSO houses the field monitoring and relay stations forswitching calls between the wireless network and the landline network.Associated with the MTSO is a Home Location Register (HLR) thatfacilitates the storing of certain subscriber information used toidentify and to verify a subscriber, as well as containing informationon the features and services the to which subscriber subscribes. TheMTSO completes the connections to the wireless units via individual cellsites positioned in various areas to provide coverage over a definedgeographic area. The cell sites then transmit the calls to the wirelessunits in accordance with instructions received from the MTSO.

[0019] In particular, the routing of telephone calls, initially directedto a wireless unit located in the wireless network, to a landline devicelocated in the landline network is primarily accomplished by registeringthe wireless unit with the landline network. The registering isaccomplished by dialing an administrative number from the landlinedevice where the subscriber wants their wireless calls to be directed.Once the administrative number is received by the AT in the landlinenetwork, a query is made by the AT into the SCP and associated VLR tosee if the subscriber is identified and verified. If so, the wirelineregistration feature is set to the “on” state in the VLR in the landlinenetwork. Once set to the “on” state, the information is subsequentlytransmitted to the HLR in the wireless network. Upon receipt, theinformation within the HLR is updated to instruct that all callsdirected to the subscriber's wireless number are to be directed to thelandline number of the landline device from which the subscriberregistered. The information transmitted to the HLR in the wirelessnetwork is transmitted directly from the SCP and associated VLR locatedin the landline network. Hence, the VLR in the landline network directlycommunicates with the HLR in the wireless network to keep both thelandline and the wireless networks up to date as to the registrationstatus and specific routing for the various subscribers.

[0020] By providing the capability for the VLR in the landline networkto directly communicate with the HLR in the wireless network, bothnetworks will be able to rout the calls efficiently and alleviate thetromboning effect that often occurs when calls are redirected from awireless unit to a landline device.

[0021] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide amethod and system that overcomes the problems associated with atelecommunications subscriber having to keep track of two differentnumbers and possibly having to dial two different numbers (a landlinenumber and a wireless number) to reach a subscriber who utilizes bothlandline and wireless services.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodand system that prevents the tromboning effect with respect to therouting of a call or other communication from a first device to a seconddevice.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodand system that prevents the tromboning effect with respect to therouting of a call or other communication between two communicationnetworks wherein a call or other communication originates with a firstnetwork, is routed to a second network, and then is re-routed fortermination or connection to a device operating in the first network.

[0024] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent upon reading the following specification, whentaken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PRIOR ART landline networkfunctionally coupled to a wireless network.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a landline network according to thedisclosed embodiment functionally coupled to a wireless network.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of the disclosedembodiment for registration of a wireless unit in the landline network.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of a call placedfrom a first wireless unit and directed according to the disclosedembodiment to a second wireless unit.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of a call placedfrom a first landline device and directed according to the disclosedembodiment to a wireless unit.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken according tothe disclosed embodiment for canceling a registration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention is directed to a telecommunications systemand method therein for the routing of telecommunications between awireless network having a mobile telephone switching office and alandline network that are functionally coupled to facilitate wherein thelandline network includes a landline network element for routingcommunications directed to a wireless number to a landline deviceassociated with a landline number. An advantage of the present inventionis that the tromboning effect that frequently occurs when routing a callor other communication from a first device to second device or betweentwo different communication networks is alleviated. Another advantage ofthe present invention is that a telecommunications subscriber does notneed to keep track of two different numbers and possibly need to dialtwo different numbers in order to reach a subscriber on the move.

[0032] The detailed description which follows will first provide a briefgeneral discussion on the Personal Communication Service (PCS)telecommunications environment within which the present invention iscapable of operating. Then, after discussing the PCS environment ingeneral, the wireline registration system according to the disclosedembodiment will be described in detail as utilized within the PCSenvironment. Finally, the overall operation of the wireline registrationsystem of the disclosed embodiment will be discussed in detail withinthe context of its use within the PCS environment.

PCS Environment

[0033] To provide a better understanding of the present invention, abrief description will be provided of a PCS environment which issuitable for utilizing the present invention within. Although thedisclosed embodiment of the present invention will be generallydescribed in the context of the PCS environment, the present inventioncan also be implemented in conjunction with other telecommunicationsenvironments for fulfilling other types of call routing needs.Furthermore, although the embodiment of the present invention will begenerally described in the context of an environment that includes botha landline network and a wireless network, the present invention canalso be implemented in other environments that are limited to just onetype of network.

[0034] The telecommunications service known as Personal CommunicationsService (PCS) was generally developed to facilitate the linking of asubscriber's landline service with his or her wireless service.Generally, PCS is an integrated landline/wireless service. Typically,the landline service utilized in PCS is provided through a landlinenetwork such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and thewireless service utilized in PCS is provided through a wireless networksuch as a cellular mobile radio (CMR) system or other radio or microwavetechnology system. FIG. 2 illustrates a PCS 10 including the pertinentportions of a landline network 12 and the pertinent portions of awireless network 14 utilized in the disclosed embodiment of the presentinvention. With respect to the landline network 12, FIG. 2 illustrates aplurality of landline devices 16 a, 16 b, 16 c and 16 d, each of whichis connected to one of two service switching points (SSPs) 18 a, 18 b.Each of the SSPs 18 a, 18 b is connected to an access tandem 20.Although not shown, each of the SSPs in the disclosed embodiment alsohas a connection to a control means that is operative to receive and tostore a registration signal corresponding to a registration of awireless unit and to transmit an activation signal to an element in thewireless network 14. By way of illustration, in the disclosed embodimentin FIG. 2, one type of control means is a service control point (SCP)30. The SCP 30 further provides an indirect connection for the SSPs 18a, 18 b to the service management system (SMS) 34. In addition, asfurther illustrated in FIG. 2, the SSP 18 a is connected to anintelligent peripheral (IP) 36. The IP 36 may be a service node and maybe connected to the SSP 18 a through integrated services digital network(ISDN) lines. For further information regarding the referenced landlinenetwork including AIN aspects thereof, the interested reader is referredto U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,719 to Weisser, which is incorporated herein byreference.

[0035] In the PCS 10, the landline network 12 and wireless network 14may be connected through various network elements. In general, in thedisclosed embodiment in FIG. 2, the connection is provided by way of arouting means that is selectively operative for routingtelecommunications directed to wireless and landline numbers. By way ofillustration, one type of routing means is an Access Tandem (AT) 20. TheAT 20 is functionally coupled between an element of the landline network12 such as the SSP 18 b and an element in the wireless network 14 Ingeneral, the AT 20 is functionally coupled to a switching means in thewireless network 14. Similar to the routing means in the landlinenetwork 12, the switching means provides for the routing oftelecommunications within the wireless network 14. By way ofillustration, in the disclosed embodiment in FIG. 2, one type ofswitching means is a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) 22. AnMTSO may also be referred to as a mobile switching center (MSC).

[0036] Another type of connection between the landline network 12 andwireless network 14 may be from the SCP 30 through a signal transferpoint (STP) 38 to the MTSO 22, and in particular, to the home locationregister (HLR) 24 of the MTSO 22. The HLR 24 is typically used to keeptrack of wireless units associated with subscribers of the wirelessnetwork 14 and to store the subscriber identity/controlling the MTSO 22.The MTSO 22 is also connected to a plurality of base stations 26 a, 26 bwhich use radio or microwave technology to communicate with wirelessdevices 28, 28 b, 28 c and 28 d. For further information regarding thereferenced wireless network, the interested reader is referred to thepatent to Corner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,973, which is incorporated hereinby reference.

[0037] As noted above, the PCS 10 has been developed to link asubscriber's landline service with his or her wireless service. A PCSsubscriber is assigned a PCS number which is the primary number to beused by callers trying to reach the subscriber. This PCS number in mostcases is a number that is assigned to a subscriber's wireless unit 28.When the wireless service in PCS is a CMR system, then the PCS numbermay be a number assigned to the subscriber's cell phone number. When theterm “PCS number” is used herein, it may be assumed that the referenceis to a wireless number unless otherwise noted.

[0038] PCS operates as a wireless network in the case of a call that isdirected to a subscriber's PCS number, which then is routed to thewireless unit 28 associated with the PCS number. But as noted, PCS is anintegrated landline/wireless service. With respect to that integration,a subscriber may make use of the operation of PCS as a landline network12. A caller may be able to reach the subscriber by calling thesubscriber's landline directory number, which is referred to herein inthe context of PCS as a base directory number (base DN). Thesubscriber's base DN is associated with the subscriber's PCS service.When the term “base DN” is used hereafter, it may be assumed that thereference is to a landline number unless otherwise noted.

[0039] As an integrated landline/wireless service, PCS overcomes some ofthe problems experienced by a subscriber who has a landline serviceseparate from a wireline service. In particular, PCS typically solvesthe problem of a caller having to make separate calls to each of thesubscriber's landline directory number and the subscriber's wirelessnumber. One way in which PCS solves this problem is by allowing asubscriber to implement a feature which directs calls to thesubscriber's PCS number in the wireless network 14 to the subscriber'slandline number in the landline network 12. This feature is referred tohereinafter as “wireline registration.” Advantageously, as is explainedbelow, the wireline registration feature allows for the routing of acommunication from the wireless network 14 to the landline network 12without the use of a service such as the call forwarding service.

Wireline Registration Setup

[0040] When a subscriber has effected wireline registration, all of thecalls that are dialed to his or her PCS number are routed to his or herbase DN. Generally, this routing of calls from the wireless network 14to the landline network 12 is accomplished without a call forwardingservice by having the landline number appear to the wireless network 14as a “wireless number.” The discussion which follows will first describehow a subscriber wireline registers and what takes place within the SCP30 to effect the wireline registration. Next, several call flowdescriptions will be discussed explaining how the wireline registrationfeature operates to route calls within the landline and wirelessnetworks 12 and 14.

[0041] To effect wireline registration, the subscriber dials anadministrative number from their landline device 16 in the landlinenetwork 12. This administrative number is predetermined and, when a calldirected to this number is received in the landline network 12, it isindicative of a request for the registration of the respective wirelessunit 28 associated with the administrative number. Thus, the call to anadministrative number serves as a registration signal to be acted uponwhen received. In receiving the call from the landline number, certainidentification information is associated with the call. Thisidentification information together with additional information storedin the SCP 30 that associates the wireless number with the landlinenumber forms the data and instructions that facilitate effectingwireline registration. The data and instructions are held in the VLR 32of the SCP 30 and are also transmitted to the HLR 24. The data andinstructions transmitted to the HLR 24 thereby forming, in effect, anactivation signal to the HLR 24 and MTSO 22.

[0042] After receiving the call directed to the administrative number, arecognition of the call is made based on the data and instructions. Oncethe recognition is made, the landline number is generally validated withrespect to entitlement of the wireline registration feature. Aftervalidating the landline number, the wireline registration process storesthe data and instructions in the VLR 32 (from the registration signal)and transmits the data and instructions (by way of the activationsignal) to the HLR 24 associated with the MTSO 22. Thereafter, aconfirmatory announcement is made to the caller indicating that thewireline registration is complete.

[0043] The data and instructions associated with the MTSO 22 aretransmitted to the HLR 24 by a landline network element. For example, inFIG. 2, the SCP 30 can transmit the data and instructions to the HLR 24via the STP 38. Alternatively, the access tandem 20 can receive the dataand instructions from the SCP 30 and then transmit to the MTSO 22 andassociated HLR 24. Generally, the data and instructions are held in therespective VLR 32 and HLR 24 data registers until the wirelineregistration setting is canceled. More details on the cancellation ofwireline registration will be discussed below in conjunction with FIG.6.

[0044] In addition, after recognizing the call but before validating thecall, the system may present the caller with a menu of options of otherservice features which can be initiated through the use of theadministrative number may be provided to the caller. The caller can thenmake a selection from the menu, whereupon a confirmatory announcement ismade to the caller in response to the selection.

[0045] Once the wireline registration is complete, a call directed tothe wireless unit 28 will trigger a query to be sent to the landlinenetwork element such as, for example, the SCP 30 in FIG. 2. The query tothe landline network element will determine the landline numberassociated with the wireless number and will cause the call to be routedaccordingly.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram illustrates the generalsteps of a method 300 for accomplishing the wireline registration.Method 300 begins at step 305 and proceeds to step 310, where a callerdials the administrative number from a landline device 16. Next, at step315, the call is received at the landline network element (the accesstandem 20, or alternatively, an SSP 18) and is directed to anadministrative number, whereupon a TAT trigger is activated therebycausing a query to be sent to the SCP 30. At step 320, the query isreceived by the SCP 30, and the landline number, by way of the callingnumber identification (CLID) information, is checked in the VLR 32 todetermine if the landline number is valid and is entitled to use thewireline registration feature.

[0047] If it is determined at step 320 that the landline number isvalid, the method 300 follows the “yes” branch to step 325. At step 325,the wireline registration status is set to “on” and the necessary dataand instructions are stored in the VLR 32 as well as transmitted by theSCP 30 to the HLR 24. Next, at step 330, the HLR 24 receives thenecessary data and instructions and updates its registers accordingly.At this point, the landline number (base DN) looks like a wirelessnumber to the HLR 24 in the wireless network 14, and the wireless numberof the subscriber looks like a landline number to the VLR 32 in thelandline network 12. Once the HLR 24 has been updated with the necessarydata and instructions, at step 335, a confirmatory announcementindicating that the wireline registration has been completed istransmitted back to the caller via the SCP 30 and the landline networkelement. Thereafter, the method 300 then proceeds to step 345 whereuponmethod 300 ends.

[0048] If it is determined at step 320 in FIG. 3 that the landlinenumber is not valid, the method 300 follows the “no” branch to step 340.At step 340, an announcement is transmitted back to the caller via theSCP 30 and the landline network element indicating that the landlinenumber (by way of the CLID information) is not valid. Thereafter, themethod 300 again proceeds to step 345 whereupon the method 300 ends.

[0049] As can be seen, wireline registration can be accomplished by asubscriber simply placing a call. For example, a call to a featureaccess code (i.e., *xx), together with the CLID information from thecall, could be sufficient to wireline register. Additionally, wirelineregistration may be made with respect to more than one wireless number.For example, several wireless subscribers may wireline register at thesame landline number such that certain ring patterns or tones will becaused to occur at the associated landline device 16 in accordance withcalls to each of the respective subscribers.

[0050] As an alternative to the above described processing of the callto the administrative number, the administrative call may be routed tothe IP 36 (in FIG. 2) via an SSP 18 triggering on the calledadministrative number and querying the SCP 30 for instructions. In turn,the SCP 30 may respond with instructions to send the call to the IP 36,whereupon the SSP 18 acts accordingly. Thereafter, the IP 36 engages inan exchange of information with the caller. For example, the IP 36 maystore a program enabling it to “talk” to the caller and obtaininformation necessary for the wireline registration setup. Afterobtaining the necessary information, the IP 36 can then transmit thenecessary information to the SCP 30 whereupon the VLR 32 and the HLR 24are subsequently updated.

[0051] Further, the wireline registration may also be implementedautomatically. As noted, the wireline registration generally isimplemented at the behest of the subscriber. As explained above, asubscriber may dial an administrative number to have the wirelineregistration implemented. Alternatively, the wireline registration maybe implemented automatically in certain situations. For example, thewireless unit 28 may interact with the landline device 16 or associatedelements therewith in such a way that when the wireless unit 28 iswithin a certain geographical range of the landline device 16, a requestfor implementation of the wireline registration may be automaticallysent to the appropriate landline network element. In that case, based onthe request, calls to the subscriber's wireless number may be routed tothe subscriber's landline number.

Operation of Wireline Registration: Calls Directed to Wireless Number

[0052] In addressing the operation of the wireline registration betweenthe landline network 12 and the wireless network 14 when calls areplaced to a subscriber's wireless number, there are four differingscenarios to consider. Two scenarios relate to a condition where thewireline registration is “on,” and two scenarios relate to a conditionwhere the wireline registration is “off” as related to calls originatingfrom a landline device 16 or, alternatively, from a wireless unit 28.Table 1 below sets forth the four scenarios. TABLE 1 Call EventScenarios call from call to Reg. status of WU′ routed to 1. WU WU′ “on”LD′ 2. WU WU′ “off” WU′ 3. LD WU′ “on” LD′ 4. LD WU′ “off” WU′

[0053] Where:

[0054] “WU” is the call originating wireless unit;

[0055] “WU′” is the called wireless unit;

[0056] “LD” is the call originating landline device; and

[0057] “LD′” is the landline device associated with the wirelesssubscriber.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of the disclosedembodiment illustrates the flow of a call according to scenario No. 1listed above in Table 1. In FIG. 4, as a result of a subscriber havingeffected wireline registration with wireless unit 28 d in accordancewith the previously described wirelihne registration setup, the calloriginating from wireless unit 28 a directed to the subscriber'swireless unit 28 d is automatically routed to the subscriber's landlinedevice 16 d (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, the dashed arrowsrepresenting the flow of data only, and the solid arrows representingthe flow of the voice connection).

[0059] More particularly, in FIG. 4, a call originating from thewireless unit 28 a is received by the cell site 26 a and transmitted tothe MTSO 22. Next, the MTSO 22 makes a data query to the HLR 24. In theHLR 24, because the wireline registration is “on,” the subscriber'slandline number (base DN) is reflected as being the wireless number towhich the call is routed. Therefore, in response to the query, the HLR24 transmits back to the MTSO 22 instructions to route the call to thelandline number. In following the instructions, the MTSO 22 thentransmits the call out of the wireless network 14 across to the accesstandem 20 in the landline network 12. Upon receipt, the access tandem 20initiates a query into the SCP 30 and associated VLR 32 asking forinstructions on where to further route the call based on the landlinenumber received from the MTSO 22. In response to the query from theaccess tandem 20, the SCP 30 looks to the VLR 32 and retrieves theinstructions associated with the landline number. Next, the SCP 30transmits the instructions to the access tandem 20 directing the call tobe routed to SSP 18 b and then to landline device 16 d. It is alsoimportant to note that, while the subscriber is wireline registered, theVLR 32 further reflects that the wireless number associated withwireless unit 28 d is the landline number associated with landlinedevice 16 d in the landline network 12. Finally, from the access tandem20, the call is routed to SSP 18 b and then to landline device 16 d tocomplete the connection.

[0060] In contrast, if the subscriber having wireless unit 28 d was notwireline registered, as is represented by scenario 2 in Table 1 above,the call would have been routed in the usual course to the wireless unit28 d in the wireless network 14. More specifically, the call originatingfrom wireless unit 28 a would be received by cell site 26 a andtransmitted to MTSO 22. At MTSO 22, a query would have been transmittedto the HLR 24 asking for the routing instructions (which include atleast a routing number) associated with the wireless number. In responseto the query, the HLR 24 would transmit routing instructions back to theMTSO 22. The routing instructions would be directed at the location ofthe wireless unit 28 d and the particular cell site 26 b from which totransmit. Thereafter, the call would be transmitted to cell site 26 band then finally transmitted over the air to wireless unit 28 d.

[0061]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating Scenario 3 in Table 1above, that is, the flow of a call placed from a first landline device16 a and to a wireless unit 28 d (not shown in FIG. 5) wherein thewireless unit 28 d has been wireline registered at another landlinedevice 16 d to redirect the call to landline device 16 d. In thisscenario, the present invention alleviates the “tromboning effect” thatoften occurs with the use of “call forwarding” services. With thewireless unit 28 d wireline registered, the call flow path required toaccomplish the connection to the landline device 16 d never needs toleave the landline network 12. This results in freeing up the heavilyused connection lines between the access tandem 20 in the landlinenetwork 12 and the MTSO 22 in the wireless network 14. Thus, valuabletime and space are not wasted on the connection lines between thenetworks 12 and 14 due to redundant call flow routing. In Scenario 3there is never any need to rout the call flow from the landline network12 across to the wireless network 14, only to be routed back again tothe landline network 12 (the “tromboning effect”).

[0062] More particularly, in FIG. 5, a call placed from the landlinedevice 16 a directed to the wireless unit 28 d (not shown) is receivedby the SSP 18 a. At the SSP 18 a, the call is transmitted to the accesstandem 20, where a TAT trigger is activated and a query is initiatedinto the SCP 30 and associated VLR 32. From the TAT trigger the accesstandem 20 transmits the query to the SCP 30 asking for routinginstructions based on the wireless number dialed at the landline device16 a. Upon receiving the query, the SCP 30 looks to the VLR 32 for thecurrent routing instructions associated with the wireless number.Because the subscriber associated with wireless unit 28 d has previouslybeen wireline registered at landline device 16 d, the wireless numberwill now appear in the VLR 32 to be the landline number associated withlandline device 16 d. Accordingly the wireless number will also appearin the HLR 24 in the wireless network 14 to also look like the landlinenumber associated with landline device 16 d. Next, the SCP 30 transmitsthe routing instructions obtained from the VLR 32 to the access tandem20. Because wireline registration is “on,” the call is directed to SSP18 b and thereafter to landline device 16 d. Once the routinginstructions have been received by the access tandem 20 and interpreted,the call is physically routed to SSP 18 b, whereby it is finallytransmitted to landline device 16 d to complete the connection.

[0063] As can be seen, the call flow routing never left the landlinenetwork 12 to complete the connection. The call flow and routing can beseen in FIG. 5 as indicated by the directional arrows A, B, C, D, E, andF (the dashed arrows representing the flow of data only and the solidarrows representing the flow of the voice connection). This is veryadvantageous over any “call forwarding” services that are currentlyprovided today in the telecommunications industry. In the “callforwarding” situation, the call placed at landline device 16 a wouldhave been routed through SSP 18 a to the access tandem 20 and thereafteracross the networks to the MTSO 22 (not shown in FIG. 5) in the wirelessnetwork 14. At the MTSO 22, the wireless number dialed at landlinedevice 16 a would then be looked up in the HLR 24 to retrieve furtherrouting instructions. However, at this point, an activated “callforwarding” feature would then instruct the MTSO 22 to rout all callsdirected to the wireless number back over to the landline numberassociated with landline device 16 d. Once the MTSO 22 receives therouting instructions from the HLR 24, the call would then be routed backacross the networks to the access tandem 20 with instructions to routthe call to the landline number associated with landline device 16 d.Having received the instructions from the MTSO 20 in the wirelessnetwork 14, the access tandem 20 now queries the SCP 30 and associatedVLR 32 asking for the routing instructions corresponding to the landlinenumber associated with landline device 16 d. From this point on, theusual course of events is followed, and the call is routed to SSP 18 band thereafter to landline device 16 d.

[0064] In contrast to the call routing achieved by the present inventionwith the subscriber having wireline registered, the call would be routedin the normal fashion. That is, the call would be routed from landlinedevice 16 a to SSP 18 a and then on to the access tandem 20. Uponreaching the access tandem 20, the SCP 30 and associated VLR 32 would bequeried for appropriate routing instructions based on the wirelessnumber dialed. The instructions would direct the call to be routed overto the wireless network 14. Therefore, the call would be routed from theaccess tandem 20 in the landline network 12 to the MTSO 22 (not shown inFIG. 5, see FIGS. 2 and 4 for wireless network 14 layout) in thewireless network 14. Next, the MTSO 22 would query the HLR 24 asking forthe remaining routing instructions based on the wireless number dialedat landline device 16 a. After receiving the appropriate routinginstructions, the call would then be routed to cell site 26 b (see FIGS.2 and 4) and thereafter transmitted over the air to wireless unit 28 dto complete the connection.

[0065] Accordingly, the call routing capabilities of the presentinvention provide significant improvements over the call routing schemescurrently used today in the telecommunications industry. The presentinvention allows for a more efficient and cost effective call routingbetween the landline and wireless networks 12 and 14. With theoperational aspects of the present invention having now been describedin detail, the cancellation of the wireline registration feature will beaddressed next.

Cancellation of Wireline Registration

[0066] With reference now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram illustrating thegeneral steps for canceling the wireline registration is shown as method600. Method 600 begins at step 605 and proceeds to step 610. At step610, the subscriber powers up his or her wireless unit 28 (see FIG. 2for equipment layout and reference). Upon being powered up, the wirelessunit automatically transmits a signal which notifies the wirelessnetwork 14 that the subscriber is active and ready to receive a call.Next, at step 615, the MTSO 22 receives the power up signal andidentifies it with the wireless unit 28. After receiving the power upsignal and interpreting it, the MTSO 22 at step 620 notifies the HLR 24that the wireless unit 28 is active and ready to receive calls. At thispoint, at step 625, the HLR 24 transmits instructions to the SCP 30 andassociated VLR 32 in the landline network 12 to cancel the wirelineregistration for the respective subscriber associated with wireless unit28. In canceling the wireline registration, the SCP 30 updates the datain the VLR 32 to reflect that the wireline registration status is “off,”and the normal routing numbers are listed as current. From step 625, themethod 600 proceeds to step 630. At step 630, the SCP 30 now transmitsinstructions back to the HLR 24 in the wireless network 14 to update itsdata to reflect the normal routing numbers as current and that thewireless unit 28 is available. Once the VLR 32 and HLR 24 registers inthe respective landline and wireless networks 12 and 14 have beenappropriately updated, the method 600 proceeds to step 635 and ends.

[0067] Accordingly, to effect the cancellation of the wirelineregistration, the subscriber need only power up their wireless unit.Alternatively, other means for causing the cancellation of the wirelessregistration may be employed such as, for example, additionallyrequiring the subscriber to confirm the request for cancellation bydialing a certain access code (i.e., *xx) after powering up theirrespective wireless unit 28. In this instance, the subscriber would havethe option to continue the wireline registration status and have allcalls directed to the wireless number redirected to the subscriber'slandline number while still being able to place calls from the wirelessunit 28.

[0068] In summary, the routing of telephone calls initially directed toa wireless unit located in the wireless network, to a landline devicelocated in the landline network, is primarily accomplished byregistering the wireless unit with the landline network. The registeringis accomplished by dialing an administrative number from the landlinedevice where the subscriber wants their wireless calls to be directedto. Once the administrative number is received by the access tandem inthe landline network, a query is made by the access tandem into the SCPand associated VLR to see if the subscriber is identified and verified.If so, the wireline registration feature is set to the “on” state in theVLR in the landline network. Once set to the “on” state, the informationis subsequently transmitted to the HLR in the wireless network. Uponreceipt, the information within the HLR is updated so to instruct thatall calls directed to the subscriber's wireless number are to bedirected to the landline number of the landline device from which thesubscriber registered. The information transmitted to the HLR in thewireless network is directly from the SCP and associated VLR located inthe landline network. Hence, the VLR in the landline network directlycommunicates with the HLR in the wireless network in order to keep boththe landline and the wireless networks up to date as to the registrationstatus and specific routing for the various subscribers.

[0069] By providing the capability for the VLR in the landline networkto directly communicate with the HLR in the wireless network, bothnetworks will be able to rout the calls efficiently and therebyalleviate the tromboning effect that often occurs when calls areredirected from a wireless unit to a landline device.

[0070] Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that itprovides a method and system that overcomes the problems associated witha telecommunications subscriber having to keep track of two differentnumbers and possibly having to dial two different numbers (a landlinenumber and a wireless number) in order to reach a subscriber on the movewho utilizes both landline and wireless services.

[0071] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides amethod and system that prevents the “tromboning effect” with respect tothe routing of a call or other communication from a first device to asecond device.

[0072] Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides amethod and system that prevents the tromboning effect with respect tothe routing of a call or other communication between two communicationnetworks, the “tromboning effect” being where a call or othercommunication originates with a first network, is routed to a secondnetwork, and then is re-routed for termination or connection to back toa device operating in the first network.

[0073] The foregoing system and methods of the present invention may beconveniently implemented in various telecommunications environmentsbased upon the flow charts in FIGS. 3 and 6 as well as the illustrationsin FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. No particular arrangement of equipment has beenrequired for carrying out the various procedures described above becauseit is considered that the operations, steps, procedures and equipmentarrangements described above and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings are sufficiently disclosed to permit one of ordinary skill inthe art to practice the present invention. Moreover, there are manyvarious equipment arrangements and procedures which may be used topractice the present invention, and therefore no detailed arrangementand method could be provided which would be applicable to all of thesemany different systems.

[0074] The present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments which are intended in all respects to beillustrative rather than restrictive. The particular embodimentdescribed is one of registering the wireless unit by dialing anadministrative number from the landline device where the subscriberwants their wireless calls to be directed, updating the informationwithin the HLR to instruct that all calls directed to the subscriber'swireless number are to be directed to the landline number associatedwith the landline device from which the subscriber registered, providingthe capability for the VLR in the landline network to directlycommunicate with the HLR in the wireless network, and thereby routingcalls between both networks efficiently and cost effectively such thatthe “tromboning effect” that often occurs when calls are redirected froma wireless unit to a landline device is alleviated. However, thoseskilled in the art will understand that the principles of the presentinvention apply to any tasks or processes that require the VLR and HLRregisters, or equivalents thereof, to communicate with one another inorder to accomplish the routing communications between two environments.

[0075] Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled inthe art to which the present invention pertains without departing fromits spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention isdefined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description.

1. In telecommunication environments having wireless networks incommunication with landline networks, a system comprising: a homelocation register (HLR) located within a wireless network; a visitorlocation register (VLR) located within a landline network; means forstoring a routing number at the HLR as a wireless number; and means forstoring the routing number at the VLR as a landline number.
 2. Intelecommunication environments having wireless networks in communicationwith landline networks, a system comprising: a first register locatedwithin a wireless network; a second register located within a landlinenetwork; a controller functionally coupled to the first register and thesecond register, the controller being adapted to store a routing numberat the first register as a wireless number, the controller further beingadapted to store the routing number at the second register as a landlinenumber.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first register is a homelocation register (HLR) and the second register is a visitor locationregister (VLR).
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is aservice control point (SCP) functionally coupled to the HLR and the VLR,the SCP being adapted to store the routing number at the HLR as awireless number, the SCP further being adapted to store the routingnumber at the VLR as a landline number.
 5. The system of claim 3,wherein the controller is a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)functionally coupled to the HLR and the VLR, the MTSO being adapted tostore the routing number at the HLR as a wireless number, the MTSOfurther being adapted to store the routing number at the VLR as alandline number.
 6. A wireless network comprising: a register adapted tostore a landline number as a wireless number; a router functionallycoupled to the register, the router being adapted to receive acommunication directed to a wireless device, the router further beingadapted to route the received communication to the landline number. 7.The system of claim 6, wherein the register is a home location register(HLR).
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the router is a mobiletelephone switching office (MTSO) functionally coupled to the HLR. 9.The system of claim 6, wherein the router is a mobile telephoneswitching office (MTSO).
 10. A landline network comprising: a registeradapted to store a wireless number as a landline number; a routerfunctionally coupled to the register, the router being adapted to routea communication directed to a landline device, the communication beingrouted to the stored wireless number.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the register is a visitor location register (VLR).
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the router is a landline network elementfunctionally coupled to the VLR.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein thelandline network element is an access tandem (AT).
 14. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the landline network element is a service switchingpoint (SSP).
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the router is alandline network element.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein thelandline network element is an access tandem (AT).
 17. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the landline network element is a service switchingpoint (SSP).
 18. In telecommunication environments having wirelessnetworks in communication with landline networks, a method comprising:storing a routing number in a wireless network as a wireless number; andstoring the routing number in a landline network as a landline number.19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving acommunication directed to a wireless device; and routing the receivedcommunication to the specified routing number.
 20. The method of claim18, further comprising: receiving a communication directed to a landlinedevice; and routing the received communication to the specified routingnumber.
 21. In telecommunication environments having wireless networksin communication with landline networks, a method comprising: storing arouting number associated with a landline device, the routing numberbeing stored as a wireless number in a wireless network; receiving acommunication over the wireless network, the communication beingdirected to the landline device; and retrieving the routing number inresponse to receiving the communication; and routing the receivedcommunication to the routing number.
 22. In telecommunicationenvironments having wireless networks in communication with landlinenetworks, a method comprising: storing a routing number associated witha wireless device, the routing number being stored as a landline numberin a landline network; receiving a communication over the landlinenetwork, the communication being directed to the wireless device; andretrieving the routing number in response to receiving thecommunication; and routing the received communication to the routingnumber.